After completing Mickey Blue Eyes, his first big-budget studio film for Castle Rock Entertainment, LTB Productions director Kelly Makin has returned to Toronto ready to get back into commercial directing.

What has been the high point of your directorial career so far?

When my agent called to say Steven Spielberg had seen Brain Candy, loved it and wanted to meet me. The next thing I knew I was on the set of The Lost World talking to Steven about how I shot certain scenes in the movie. We spent the afternoon talking film while he directed giant cardboard dinosaurs devouring people. It was about the best introduction to Hollywood I could ever ask for.

What has been the low point?

Right out of film school when I got a job directing retail commercials for a TV station up north. I was directing three commercials a day. All had close-ups of electrical appliances and three minutes of v/o that had to be crammed into 30 seconds. My only triumph is that many of these same commercials are still running today.

Why did you want to be a director?

I fell into directing. When we were kids my brother and I used to make 8mm films. Because he was older he always got to be the cameraman. The only other job left was the director, so I took that. That position stuck and we continue to make films together as cameraman and director to this day.

What advice would you give an up-and-coming director?

Always, always trust your instincts.

If you knew when you started out in the business what you know now, what would you have done differently?

Spent less time worrying about trying to be a director and more time enjoying the journey.

Who, or what, influences your work?

Anything has the potential to inspire and influence me. Whether it’s a song lyric, TV commercial or passage in a book; if it’s creative and well executed it all adds fuel to the fire.